After thinking about it for a while, I want to do away with my continous loop layout for something a little more fun to operate (for me) and more prototypical. I think I would enjoy a point-to-point operation. Control would be Digitrax DCC, with at least one walk around throttle, possibly wireless… Probably looking at an intitial dimension of 16-18’ by 8-10’ overall. The benchwork will have to be stand alone, I would be building it in a 40 by 60 metal building that I can’t really build the benchwork into. At one end I would have a small yard w/ a small engine service/storage facility to start things with a Walthers yard office to control things on the layout, which will mainly feature West Virginia like terrain and CSX motive power. Along the way of the layout I’ll have small sidings with small industries, and then have a town at the end of the layout, incorporating a small passanger line in with this. This is my intitial plans, comments please? Thanks,
-beegle55 (P.S- By tomorrow I hope to have more concrete plans with a half way RTS version of what this RR will look like)
You’ve described my favorite kind of layout. I like to try to figure in some continuous running for the mainline you connect to, though, even if it’s just a loop behind a back drop for staging. Gives the interchange traffic a place to go.
The long sleepy branch could also be rigged with hidden return loops. You wouldn’t use them during regular operating, but when guests come over, you could turn the train on to run back and forth without a lot of attention. A spring switch and a reverser would be all you need.
I agree with the above post, that having a continuous loop is nice for kids and open house, etc.
A word of caution on the metal building. Is it insulated? I have one that is not and it tends to sweat during weather changes. I do not have either heat or forced ventilation, but I think it would take a lot to keep a layout dry. Could you build an insulated room in the larger building? Use 2" foam board and use the scraps on the layout.